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How the “Muslim Ban” Hurts America

On Friday, January 27th, 2017, President Donald Trump issued “Executive Order: Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States” which, principally, prohibits citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the U.S. for the next 90 days and bars travel from Syrian refugees indefinitely.

Shortly thereafter, Vox Media, a D.C. based new media company released an article by Mateen Mokalla, who’s official title at Vox is “Managing Producer for Facebook Video”, declaring the executive order a “Muslim Ban.” As best as I can tell, this was the first article openly attack Trumps order. It wasn’t too long before the mainstream media followed suit with the NY Times, The Hill, The Guardian, Mother Jones, NBC News, CNN, MSNBC, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and many more.

For the next two days the media hammered at every possible angle to demagogue Donald Trump and the executive order. Unsurprisingly, by Sunday, protests had formed at international airports around the nation as reports came in that people were being detained. Despite the denial by the White House that the executive order was a “Muslim Ban”, the press, with the possible exception of Fox News, has been relentlessly in support of both protesters and political opponents of the administration that it is in fact a “Muslim Ban.” Some even mocking the administration for attempting to present it as anything else was just “Alternative Facts” and “Fake News”.

So let’s look at the actual facts (Not the “alternative” kind) for a moment. There are approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world according to the Pew Research Center. Of that total population, the affected countries comprise approximately 199.4 million. That accounts for roughly only 13% of the global Muslim population.

So now let’s take those facts and apply some rational logic. Since the internet likes cats, we’ll use them as the example. Let’s say, you have a problem in the cat population such as a disease and 13% of those cats come from the same seven states in the U.S. Subsequently, the CDC decided to prohibit cats from those states being transported across state lines. Would it be a rational conclusion to state that it was a “Cat Ban”. The answer is no. Why? Because it simply doesn’t apply to 87% of cats.

The difference here is that we’re not talking about cats and disease. We’re talking about people and terrorism. While they may be analogous to some degree, the most important distinction is that a cat without the disease isn’t going to get infected by being made aware it is part of a “Cat Ban.” However, a Muslim, anywhere in the world, who may already have anti-American views but is not radicalized may be pushed towards radicalization when given the impression that all Muslims are no longer welcome in the United States.

One of the more common arguments made by protesters and critics of Trumps policy is that it emboldens our enemies by giving them the impression that immigrants, refugees and particularly Muslims are not welcome in America. Political opponents of the administration cry, pundits rant in outrage, activist groups shout slogans all to this effect all with one universal view that a “Muslim Ban” is fundamentally un-American.

“The Trump administration seems to be sending the message that the US doesn’t care about Muslim suffering. ISIS propagandists couldn’t have said it better themselves.” ~ Jennifer Williams, Vox.com

I would have to agree with Jennifer, that given the worldwide perception of Muslims now being that America is at War with Islam doesn’t want Muslims in the U.S. is probably a huge propaganda victory for ISIS. I would fully agree that we are likely less safe as a nation as a result of the world view over the so called “Muslim Ban.” and that it will likely marginalize Muslims in America, create political and social conflict within our nation and embolden those who revel in that result.

However I would have to disagree about whether or not that victory should be attributed to Donald Trump. Regardless of how poorly the executive order was implemented or how effective it may be in actually helping thwart terrorism in the US, to falsely characterize Trumps actions as a blanked “Muslim Ban”, might be considered treasonous in and of itself.

Propaganda is “information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of view”. The idea of a “Muslim Ban” is clearly propaganda promulgated the the leftist media that clearly believes it is more important to spread their point of view than to help ensure the safety of the American citizens. This is more than simply a betrayal of trust or inaccurate reporting. The view of a “Muslim Ban”, as Vox ascribes along with many other pundits and propagandists, grants our enemies aid.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. ~ The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 3

On March 10th, 1949, a federal jury convicted Mildred Gillars, AKA “Axis Sally”, an American radio broadcaster, for Treason due to her active participation in propaganda activities against the United States based on the content of one broadcast Vision Of Invasion.

I am, without a doubt, a proud proponent for freedom of speech and have been an advocate for it my entire career. There is plenty of space in our dialogue for honest, reasonable and even civil descent against Trump’s executive order on Foreign Terrorist Entry into the US. I don’t even support the idea of this executive order but that’s actually beside the point. Claiming that it is a “Muslim Ban” does, the very harm that it’s critics claim the order causes.

When speech becomes aid and comfort to the enemy or when it becomes anti-American hate speech on behalf of an enemy, that treads the dread filled line of treason and sedition. When that kind of speech comes unanimously from a political party that dominates the press, I shudder. I’m not saying that journalists, pundits or media organizations should be brought up on charges of treason. However, I do believe that We the People, should demand honest coverage of the news by the press and that they should be held accountable for their actions, that in their own words, made America less safe.

Unfortunately, much like Axis Sally, the media thinks they are safely on the winning side and all they care about is their own selfish endeavors.